Nagi is a town in Okayma, Japan. Although on their flags, it says Ramen Nagi | Universal Noodle. Could this be the translation I’m looking for?

Maybe the queue was just long. :) Anyway, Ramen Nagi’s interior is bright and loud with the flurry of people and red flags hung all over. I haven’t been to Japan but it feels like eating along its busy streets. And just like how they do it in the land of the ramen, guests are greeted happily in Japanese.

Four kings rule Ramen Nagi’s kingdom:

• Butao (tonkotsu)
• Red (spicy)
• Green (pesto and cheese)
• Black (squid ink)

I decided for the basic: Butao Ramen starting at Php 390. But they’ll hand omotenashi sheet first and red crayon. It can be customized.

Check first!

I didn't choose the easy way out by checking Chef’s Recommendation.

For the soup base, I want it really rich. Special sauce normal so with garlic. For the toppings starting with pork, I chose belly while for the vegetable, cabbage (though I wish I checked onions, instead). I don’t like spicy so checked none. For the noodles, as per the suggestion in Ikkoryu Fukuoka, went for hard.

Ramen Nagi's Butao

Though I enjoyed the ajitama in Ikkoryu Fukuoka, I didn’t add any extras, even tamago.

The broth in Ramen Nagi is the richest and creamiest I’ve had (well I asked for it). The chashu’s thicker and has a mild sweetness. The noodle was really hard, some were even sticking together. It’s a bit expensive than Ikkoryu Fukuoka but it has a relatively bigger bowl. Though lesser toppings.

In terms of taste, there’s just a very slight difference between Ikkoryu Fukuoka and Ramen Nagi. So choosing between, it has to be, again, Kichitora’s Paitan Ramen Zenbu no Se. ;)

Menu: 

   

Rating: 3.5

Ramen Nagi has a branch in:

South Wing, 
Mall of Asia Complex

Pasay City 

Butao favorite ramen food blog food reviews Pasay City ramen craze ramen joints Ramen Nagi restaurant menu SM Mall of Asia tonkotsu zomato rating

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Chicken with generous serving of gravy...

BBQ dripping with catsup-concoction sauce...

Pastas with heaping sauces...

Inihaw na isda or liempo with toyo at suka with matching kamatis at sibuyas...

I don't know if it's just me and my siblings but we, Filipinos, seem to love foods na masarsa- or those not just flavorful in itself but also with matching dipping and sauces. 

Sarsa Kitchen + Bar is a perfect combination of those two (and of what I adore in our cuisine). Specifically, they serve Ilonggo hearty foods (both my parents are!).

And just how yummy they were? Just read starting with the appetizers:

Pritchon Pancake at Php 270. Was it pancake or lumpia? I wasn't able to scrutinize well already. I was already taken by how good it was. Because even if it took me forever to eat it, it still tasted like heaven. Imagine, pritong lechon still awesomely crispy inside? Wow.

It came with Hoisin chili sauce. Didn't try it with it. Didn't think it was that necessary.

How are you there piggy lechon inside?

Lechon Manok Lumpia at Php 180. Now this one was the lesser evil appetizer- that I allowed myself to eat three, four? Well, I cannot remember. All I know was I enjoyed every flavorful bite. And the spices that came along inside made it bursting with so much goodness. Aprub!

It was served with Pinakurat but it's flavorful enough just by itself.

See the filling?

They also serve grilled sticks such as Isaw here at Php 165. Crispy and much hygienic, too. Haha.

Isaw love <3

Lechon Manok Pancit Canton at Php 195. Their serving was hefty. Their pancit canton was full of veggies and meat. It tastes good, prolly because of the flavor of lechon manok? It's also served with chili garlic oil.

Pancit for long life. 

Inasal Sisig at Php 335. Their sisig was a tad expensive compared to others but, hello? It's healthier, it's inasal. This was one of those yummy sisigs I've tried it took me two helpings until full to stop. Hope mayo came with it because then I might had adored it. Only that it won't be that healthy anymore.

Healthy way to sisig

Kansi at Php 380. Open and close parenthesis, Bulalo. I only took a sip for this one. I'm not used to Bulalo being sour. But then again maybe that's how Ilonggos would like it.

Bulalong maasim 

Thin-cut Liempo at Php 240. Served with native coffee and burong vinegar. Again, sorry I didn't try the sauces, or at least verify if it's really coffee because the liempo tasted just right.

Coffee ba talaga?

Lechon Kawali at Php 270. Served with Batwan Tsokolate and Pinakurat. Interesting, right? Twice the happiness for the already extreme lechon kawali.

Sinfully good!

Tortang Talong with Crispy Sardines and Kesong Puti at Php 210. I love talong and this one had a spicy twist and kick in it. Gourmet?

Pinakurat and Chili Banana Ketchup also came with it.

Talooong = Eggplaaaaant

Along with its comfy interiors and dedicated staff, it was a joy to dine in Sarsa Kitchen + Bar. Foods made sarsarap, three thumbs up.

For those looking for their menu, here:

Namit kaayo! 

('Super sarap' in Ilonggo)

  
Rating: 4.5

Sarsa Kitchen + Bar has a branch in:

2/F Entertainment Mall, 

SM Mall of Asia Complex,

Pasay City

Some photo credits to azyl. Happy, happy birthday :)

celebrity chef Chef Jayps Kansi Lechon Manok Lumpia menu pinakurat prices restaurant reviews Sarsa Kitchen + Bar SM Mall of Asia Thin-cut Liempo Tortang Talong with Crispy Sardines and Kesong Puti

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Around the table is the place to eat with family and friends. More than the physical presence of the table as the bearer of food, it's also that area where endless chitchat happens.

I'm so glad to start my 2015 in the company of my friends around La Mesa Grille. Dim lit under the native chandelier, it's just about that conducive to laugh and talk about anything under the sun (unless outside where at night, music blares from the band.) 

Feels like home

What is good talk without good food? While here, tried the ff:

Inihaw na Liempo at Php 175. Quite expensive for a strip of pig, right? Yes, but for me though, I enjoyed every munch of it. It's everyone's favorite, I know. But there's something special about their Liempo. Bet it's the marinade, it came out aromatic. To my taste, it's so flavorful, bit sweet even and tenderly grilled right. I enjoyed my every munch of their Liempo.

Lamesa Way :)

Kare-Kare with Beef/Tripe at Php 290.  I'm fond of eating this Filipino dish that I happen to almost every time order it wherever. I had my best at Little Quiapo in BF (been saying this all the time). And I'm super glad that theirs came second for me. It's peanuty. No need for bagoong. The meat and ox tripe both were tender. I just hope they serve it with more sauce and vegetables. But nonetheless, it was still awesome!

This is yum!

Service is good. Price is great! Food comes not instantaneously but the staff were attentive to refilling water.

They also serve alcoholic drinks so chitchat can go as long as the wee hours.

 
Rating: 4.5

La Mesa Grille has a branch in:

SM Mall of Asia, North Bayview Park, 
Seaside Blvd., Manila Bay Reclamation Area, 
Pasay City

Best Kare-kare Filipino foods food blog La Mesa Grill restaurant review SM Mall of Asia zomato rating

Sunday, January 04, 2015

I love burgers! It's one of those foods that I really find comforting. Not to say that it's everywhere it's comforting to find, too.

Sometimes, it pops up everywhere that when hunger strikes thinking twice is not an option.

I don't know how long has Big City been in SM Mall of Asia that when I saw it, "let's eat there!" Inside is just a small but comfy place to eat. Maybe it was called "Big City" because it has a penchant for the tallest buildings in big cities as its decor on the wals. Also King Kong, conquering the Empire State Building, on the other side.

Yes, that's King Kong on top of Empire State Building

Sausages, Burgers and Wings

Among the choices Big City offers, I chose the middle: Burger! And here's what I had: Cheeseburger at Php 165 served with fries and drinks.

My Cheeseburger!

The burger is relatively bigger and it's flame-grilled. Not bad at all! (Although I don't like tasting burnt meat) And not too expensive as well. Worth a try! ;)

 
Rating: 3


Big City is located at:


G/F Entertainment Mall
SM Mall of Asia, Bay Boulevard
Pasay City

Big City burgers Empire State Building food blog food review King Kong menu sausages SM Mall of Asia wings

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Congo Grille has been in the food industry as far as I can remember. It's not everyone's clamor, I know, but there's something about them that calls for space.

Who would've thought that this African-jungle themed restaurant within a concrete jungle is just about two points that will make me come back: affordability and comforting foods!

And when I say comforting foods (though not necessarily healthy), sisig tops my list!

I love sisig and in one of the Top 10 of Spot.ph, Congo Grille's made it high. They have several kinds of sisig so I tried Sizzling Pork Sisig at Php 190. It's sinfully crunchy! Blame that chicharon! And it's the type that even without calamansi or mayonnaise, it tastes perfectly fine.



Sinful! 

Also tried Spicy Salmon Belly at Php 253. It's not that spicy, by the way, but it's a good new trick to cook salmon aside from Sinigang. If I guess that right, it probably has oyster or soy sauce sautéed with onions.

Hello, belly!

Then there's their Beef Kare-kare at Php 298 served with two kinds of bagoong: ginamos or alamamg. I daresay Little Quiapo's is way way better.

Care for Kare-kare, anyone?

I don't usually eat Kare-kare with bagoong. If it's not peanuty or flavorful enough, enter bagoong. Unfortunately, Congo Grille's Kare-kare needs a little helping from it. That's just me, though.

Their YangChow rice at Php 143 is also good and meaty!

In totality, all things considered, I'll still make little trips to this jungle. There's still much to shoot!

 
Rating: 3.5

Congo Grille has a branch in:


G/F South Wing,
SM Mall of Asia,
Pasay City

African-jungle theme Congo Grille Filipino cuisine food blog food review Kare-Kare sisig SM Mall of Asia spot.ph

Thursday, August 07, 2014

It might be just a craze this year, but indulging in a bowl of hot ramen in this particularly cold weather doesn't sound crazy at all. Definitely not, when it's Hokkaido Ramen Santouka opening its doors. Their ramens are to reckon with.

 

Let's get this ramen on!

Choosing what ramen to eat is like picking up my lugaw for the day. If with ox tripe then that's gotto; if with  chicken and egg, arroz caldo that is. For ramen though, aside from the toppings, the broth also comes in consideration. 

There's shio for salt flavored with seaweed, fish and chicken bones, tonkotsu for pork bone, shoyu for soy sauce and chicken stock and miso from the paste, as we all know. 

 

Drown in their selection of ramen, set menu, rice toppings, curry and rice and etc.

I decided for a Shoyu Ramen (Php 330, medium) this time. It was topped with nori, naruto, menma, negi and slices of pork. It wasn't so spectacular for me only that the braised beef was so tender and so flavorful! The medium-sized bowl was more than for me, I could be full with just small (Php 280). It was served in just the right temperature it didn't scald my tongue.

My first choice though was their special Santouka Chicken Ramen (Php 300), which according to the menu they only serve 15 bowls. I was able to taste it and it was way better than my shoyu. My friend really enjoyed hers, and I didn't even wonder why.

One of my friend also enjoyed his Ramen and Curry & Rice bowl set (Php 450) and was full afterwards. I got to try his ramen too and was I envious, again! 

I was just a bit wrong with my ramen choice but with my friends' reaction, Ramen Santouka nailed it. Made a mental note too to try char-siu ramen next time and add additional braised beef. Yummy! 

More than the food, the ambience is nice and the seats are comfy too. Service is also good I didn't have to wait long for my order.

  
Rating: 4

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka has a branch in: 

SM Mall of Asia, 
J. Diokno Blvd.

Pasay City

food blog food review Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Japan Japanese food Ramen reviews santouka chicken ramen set menu shio shoyu SM Mall of Asia verdict

Saturday, February 01, 2014

There's a lot of ways to go sweet these days. Expensive cupcakes to mushrooming milkshakes, you choose, but there's nothing like the pure joy ice cream gives. Whether it'd be in a humongous tub or in an ice cream parlor, you'd always screaaaaam with it.

When it comes to these things, you'll enjoy choosing in Iceberg's wide array of sweet nothings (well aside from that there's more on their menu like...sisig! But let's be sweet first). From Filipino all-time favorite con hielo specials to french parfaits, super sundaes, milkshakes, banana-splits to godzilla/ king-kong appetites, a week's not enough to taste them all. 

So it started with...

 

German U-Boat Banana Split (Php 228). It has three scoops of varying ice cream flavors, whipped and sprinkled with marshmallows and chocolate-chip. On the sides are wafer sticks then topped by swet little cherry. Best of all, this german named sweetheart has an American flag :p. The serving's big it's good for sharing. It's yum but...

Strawberry Parfait (Php 188) ...I enjoyed this strawberry coolness much much. It has real fruit with syrup and three scoops of ice cream, whipped with cream and topped with a cherry. I'm a fan of chocolate but this is refreshingly sweet. 

Iceberg's Super Mais con Hielo (Php 108) is a three-thumbs up treat too. At this cheap, it's already offered with a scoop of ice cream. It's quite generous for sharing, too.

One good thing about Icebergs too is that its icecreams appear smaller than they are in real life. How cool is that? :)

  

Rating: 3.5

Icebergs has a branch in SM Mall of Asia

banana split food blog frozen delights halo-halo ice cream Icebergs mais con hielo milkshake parfaits Pasay price reviews SM Mall of Asia verdict

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The Vikings, in history as we know, were Germanic pirates who raided many parts of Northwestern Europe. 

In one way or another, I really felt like a Viking as I rummaged the entirety of the eat-all-you-can buffet in the Seaside Blvd of SM Mall of Asia. How can I not if this luxury buffet, is a bit expensive compared to others at Php 888 (vat-exclusive) that I must find a way to give my money's worth? Right?

I started this journey feasting my eyes with what's in store for me. The place is big it looks appealing, exciting! 

 

The colors at play inside the restaurant are really enticing. Same goes with how the foods are presented: in humongous Vikings ship. 

It's posh, but not so much that it inhibited me from eating ravenously. The joyous, riotous even, birthday cheers of the staff for celebrants also add to that comfy feeling.

Their food variety made me happy to the point of giddy. They have Steaks, Pizza, Seafood (of course!), Appetizer, Street foods (is what I call their foods on sticks), Shabu-Shabu, Salad bar, Breads, Dimsum, Pastas, Mexican pica-picas (quesadillas and the like) Rice, Main courses, Sushi etc. There's every cuisine I can think of: Asian, Japanese, Chinese, American, French, Italian, Filipino and what else? 

I enjoyed their dimsum corner especially the hakaw. The california maki is great as well and I heard positive approval for their sushi from my friends as well. The steaks are just fine but nothing really extraordinary. I took two turns trying the steaks, at the second chance, I almost gave up eating and regret lining up for it. Haha. But I love the pizza part! 

 

There's so many maki and sushi, I just played safe with California maki.

Another thing I love too is their desserts corner! They have three dips for their fondue: strawberry, chocolate and vanilla. Then there's create-your-own-crepe, putobumbong and bibingka station, native kakanins, taho and ice creeeeeeam corner! And when I say ice cream, it's not your usual as it's supposed to be luxurious. They have pistachio, strawberry fields, avocado, chocolate cashew flavors, among others. I tried thrice the strawberry fields! I just regret not having tried the pistachio flavor. Friends on diet will also enjoy for they have sugar-free selection. These, you can top with sprinkles and candies of all kinds! :)

 

Be delighted in three ways.

 

Sprinkles and candies of all kinds.

 

DIY corner

Aside from those, they also have this yummy cake corner that I visited twice or thrice :) How can I resist their gleaming of gold opera cake? Or their blueberry cheesecake? Or the Raspberry  panna cotta? There's so much that I have to revisit to have a taste of them all.

In other buffets too, you add additional for drinks but at this rate, it is already inclusive of overflowing juices, coffee or water. 

The replenishment of food is average. 

All-in-all, I got satisfied with my Vikings trip. It was expensive, yes, but it was worth the hassle-speaking of which, reservation is a must :)

Before I put this writing off, here's my round-about feast from the sea:

  

Rating: 4.5

Vikings is located at:

Bldg. B, By the Bay, Seaside Blvd.,

SM Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City. 

For reservations, call: 846-3888, 846-4888, 846-5888

buffet eat-all-you-can food blog food review price reviews SM Mall of Asia verdict Vikings Luxury Buffet zomato rating

Wednesday, December 25, 2013